Drying device and printing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11292272-B2
Application number	US-201916670660-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2019
Priority date	Oct 31, 2018
Publication date	Apr 5, 2022
Grant date	Apr 5, 2022

Abstract

A drying device includes: a supporting section that supports a medium on which printing was performed; a conveying section that conveys, along a conveying region, the medium supported by the supporting section; a heat generating section configured to heat, over a width direction, the medium supported by the supporting section; a fix-supporting section configured to support the heat generating section fixing the heat generating section; and free-supporting section configured to support the heat generating section so that the heat generating section can expand and contract, wherein the fix-supporting section is located in a first lateral region that is a region outside the conveying region in the width direction, and the free-supporting section is located in a second lateral region that is a region outside the conveying region in the width direction and different from the first lateral region.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A drying device comprising:
a supporting section configured to support a medium on which printing was performed;
a conveying section configured to convey, along a conveying region, the medium supported by the supporting section;
a heat generating section configured to heat, over a width direction, the medium supported by the supporting section;
a fix-supporting section configured to support the heat generating section fixing the heat generating section;
a free-supporting section configured to support the heat generating section so that the heat generating section can expand and contract,
a drying chamber configured to dry the medium supported by the supporting section;
a channel member that forms an air blowing passage that connects an inflow port with an outflow port;
a heating chamber provided between the drying chamber and the air blowing passage; and
an air blowing section configured to cause air to flow into the air blowing passage via the inflow port and to send, to the drying chamber via the outflow port, the air flowing into the air blowing passage, wherein
the fix-supporting section is located in a first lateral region that is a region outside the conveying region in the width direction,
the free-supporting section is located in a second lateral region that is a region outside the conveying region in the width direction and that is a region different from the first lateral region, and
at least one of an exhaust port, which is located downstream from the outflow port in a conveying direction of the medium, and a communication port, via which the air blowing passage between the air blowing section and the outflow port communicate with the heating chamber, is formed in the heating chamber.

2. The drying device according to claim 1 , wherein
the conveying section conveys the medium within the conveying region so that it is brought near the second lateral region.

3. The drying device according to claim 1 , wherein
the conveying section conveys the medium within the conveying region so that it is brought near the first lateral region.

4. The drying device according to claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate supporting section, that is located between the fix-supporting section and the free-supporting section in the width direction, configured to support the heat generating section so that the heat generating section can expand and contract.

5. The drying device according to claim 4 , wherein
the outflow port, the exhaust port, and the intermediate supporting section are formed such that the positions thereof in the width direction are aligned with each other.

6. A printing device comprising:
a printing section configured to perform printing on a medium;
a supporting section configured to support the medium on which printing was performed;
a conveying section configured to convey, along a conveying region, the medium supported by the supporting section;
a heat generating section configured to heat, over a width direction, the medium supported by the supporting section;
a fix-supporting section configured to support the heat generating section fixing the heat generating section;
a free-supporting section configured to support the heat generating section so that the heat generating section can expand and contract,
a drying chamber configured to dry the medium supported by the supporting section;
a channel member that forms an air blowing passage that connects an inflow port with an outflow port;
a heating chamber provided between the drying chamber and the air blowing passage; and
an air blowing section configured to cause air to flow into the air blowing passage via the inflow port and to send, to the drying chamber via the outflow port, the air flowing into the air blowing passage, wherein
the fix-supporting section is located in a first lateral region that is a region outside the conveying region in the width direction,
the free-supporting section is located in a second lateral region that is a region outside the conveying region in the width direction and that is a region different from the first lateral region; and
at least one of an exhaust port, which is located downstream from the outflow port in a conveying direction of the medium, and a communication port, via which the air blowing passage between the air blowing section and the outflow port communicate with the heating chamber, is formed in the heating chamber.

7. The drying device according to claim 1 , further comprising an intake port formed in the heating chamber.

8. The printing device according to claim 6 , wherein
the conveying section conveys the medium within the conveying region so that it is brought near the second lateral region.

9. The printing device according to claim 6 , wherein
the conveying section conveys the medium within the conveying region so that it is brought near the first lateral region.

10. The printing device according to claim 6 , further comprising an intermediate supporting section, that is located between the fix-supporting section and the free-supporting section in the width direction, configured to support the heat generating section so that the heat generating section can expand and contract.

11. The printing device according to claim 10 , wherein
the outflow port, the exhaust port, and the intermediate supporting section are formed such that the positions thereof in the width direction are aligned with each other.

12. The printing device according to claim 6 , further comprising an intake port formed in the heating chamber.

13. A printing device comprising:
a printing section configured to perform printing on a medium;
a supporting section configured to support the medium on which printing was performed;
a conveying section configured to convey, along a conveying region, the medium supported by the supporting section;
a heat generating section configured to heat, over a width direction, the medium supported by the supporting section;
a drying chamber configured to dry the medium supported by the supporting section;
a channel member that forms an air blowing passage that connects an inflow port with an outflow port;
a heating chamber provided between the drying chamber and the air blowing passage; and
an air blowing section configured to cause air to flow into the air blowing passage via the inflow port and to send, to the drying chamber via the outflow port, the air flowing into the air blowing passage, wherein
at least one of an exhaust port, which is located downstream from the outflow port in a conveying direction of the medium, and a communication port, via which the air blowing passage between the air blowing section and the outflow port communicates with the heating chamber, is formed in the heating chamber.

14. The printing device according to claim 13 , further comprising;
a first heater supporting section, that is located in one side in the width direction, configured to support the heat generating section;
a second heater supporting section, that is located in the other side in the width direction, configured to support the heat generating section; and
an intermediate supporting section, that is located between the first heater supporting section and the second heater supporting section in the width direction, configured to support the heat generating section.

15. The printing device according to claim 14 , wherein
the outflow port, the exhaust port, and the intermediate supporting section are formed such that the positions thereof in the width direction are aligned with each other.

16. The printi

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Washio Yuichi

Classifications

• B41J11/0022

  using convection means, e.g. by using a fan for blowing or sucking air · CPC title

• B41J11/00216 Primary

  using infrared [IR] radiation or microwaves · CPC title

• F26B3/283

  in combination with convection · CPC title

• F26B3/30 Primary

  from infrared-emitting elements {(by radiation emanating from passages containing heated fluids other than combustion gases F26B23/10)} · CPC title

• B65H2301/4461

  by blowing air towards handled material · CPC title